Ombudsman chief prosecutor sacked

MANILA, Philippines - Noting that the Office of the President had denied her appeal, the Office of the Ombudsman has officially removed Special Prosecutor Wendell Barreras-Sulit from her post.        

In a one-page directive issued late Monday and which was enforced yesterday, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales designated Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang to replace Sulit in an acting capacity.

Malacañang ordered Sulit’s removal in September last year for her alleged role in the approval of the controversial plea bargaining agreement between government prosecutors and former military general Carlos Garcia.      

Sulit tried to overturn President Aquino’s decision through a petition for certiorari and mandamus she filed before the Court of Appeals (CA).

The CA dismissed the petition in August 2013.   

The issue on the plea bargaining agreement has been brought before the Supreme Court. 

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) is challenging the agreement’s legality and propriety.                 

Sources told The STAR recently that the Sandiganbayan had planned to impose a more than P700-million fine on Garcia for the crimes of direct bribery and facilitating money laundering, to which he had already pleaded guilty.